Galaxy having an off offseason so far

Trade rumors routinely mention the Galaxy when big-name players are on the move.

U.S. international midfield destroyer Jermaine Jones is ready to leave the Bundesliga? How would he look lining up next to Juninho in the Galaxy midfield, wondering fans salivate prodded by speculating media types.

Prolific Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o could leave the league that made him one of the richest players in the world? Doesn’t that Galaxy outfit still need a replacement for David Beckham becomes the obvious question for lazy reporters needing a story that will generate website hits.

And then, of course, there’s always names like Kaka, Frank Lampard and Andrei Arshavin to roll out on slow news days.

So it follows Galaxy fans have been a bit frustrated this offseason with the club’s infrequent activity in the trade market.

On Monday, the club made its biggest offseason acquisition by signing 32-year-old Canadian journeyman Rob Friend, who has spent his entire 11-year career in Europe scoring 75 goals for mainly lower tier clubs.

Coach Bruce Arena had telegraphed the arrival of the 6-foot-5, 205-pound target man last week when the Galaxy unveiled the loan signing of 22-year-old Brazilian target forward Samuel from Fluminense who weighs in at 6-2, 190 pounds.

“We’re going to follow up this week with probably another player who can play that position as well,” Arena had told reporters in the wake of that acquisition. “One of our weaknesses last year, although no one would argue that Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane are not a great group of forwards, but in some games you need a stronger physical presence in front of the goal, and we have that with Samuel.”

And now they have that with Friend, too.

Logical signings that strengthen the squad these may be, but it will take more than word the Galaxy has reeled in a midfielder like Baggio Husidic to get fans plunking down money for season tickets. Meanwhile, MLS Cup rivals are loading up on the household names that were once once the Galaxy’s province.

Seattle gets a big name like Kenny Cooper.

D.C. United nabs former Sounder Eddie Johnson, a player that — you guessed it — was linked with the Galaxy.

And even MLS basket case Toronto struck it big Monday by unofficially unveiling EPL veteran Jermaine Defoe and U.S. international Michael Bradley. Not so coincidentally, the twin coups were engineered by Tim Leiweke, the former AEG president who was the architect of the deal that brought Beckham to LA.

The Galaxy, though the MLS trendsetters at the sort of moves that send tongues wagging, have been conspicuous by their absence of late.

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That’s perhaps not surprising for a team with three designated players that’s grappling with salary cap issues. And Arena is more likely to merely tweak things than make a big splash in the weeks ahead.

“We are pleased with the additions of Samuel and Rob Friend to our core group of players,” Arena emailed Monday in response to my inquiry. “We will continue to look at adding another player or two before the season.”

But that’s more likely via Thursday’s MLS Draft – the Galaxy has the No. 14 pick – than through a big-money move.

Etc.

Chivas USA has the 20th pick overall — and the first of the second round — in Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft. ... Upland High’s Tanya Samarzich, a USC freshman, has hit two hat tricks in three games for Mexico at the CONCACAF Under-20 championships to become the tournament’s leading scorer. ... Korea will play fellow World Cup qualifiers Costa Rica in a 5 p.m. Jan. 25 friendly at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, days before the Southeast Asian nation meets the U.S. on Feb. 1 in Carson.